It’s all systems go at Sandhill Racing Stables, which is situated alongside the A39 at Bilbrook. The horses are back in and everything is gearing up for the start of the National Hunt racing season which gets underway in earnest in October.

After saddling 53 winners last season, Johnson White, who after 30 years as assistant to Philip Hobbs became the joint licensee at the yard in the spring of 2023, cant wait to get going again.

Mr White said: “The horses came in again in the middle of July with a view to taking 12 weeks to get fit so they are ready by the middle of October, when by normal seasons the ground should be safe to run on.

“Literally the horses have come into the stables, they have had shoes put on, and then they will do the best part of a months roadwork starting off walking for 20 minutes a day upping that to an hour plus and then trotting as well, before they actually see the gallops. They start off doing one steady canter and upping it with a view to be doing a fast piece of work middle of September.”

Last season was the best at the yard since he became joint licence holder - what does Johnson White put that success down to?

“I think that there are several factors that came into it. We have bought well in the last 18 months, and got some very nice horses, and we kept them healthy all season which is absolutely paramount.

“We have got a great team back here who have worked really hard, and there is a great atmosphere about the place which is what happens when things are going well.

“Everything clicked and the horses ran to their best and exceeded what we had hoped for, all of which leads me to such excitement coming in to this autumn.”

What does it mean to Johnson to see a horse that he has been involved with from the start cross the line as a winner?

“It’s just fantastic because we all know there is so much that can go wrong and the number of boxes that have to be ticked to get a horse to win a race.It’s phenomenally satisfying to get them into the winners enclosure.”

Johnson picked out a couple of high spots from last season: “Don’t Wind Me Up winning at Taunton in front of so many of the syndicate members was one and Imperial Saint winning three times at Aintree and finishing a very good second on Grand National Day was another.”

Finally he suggested a couple of horses that readers might want to keep an eye out for.

“Bobbys Nelson is a very nice horse and finished a very good second in a bumper and Im hoping will become a top class hurdler. I also like Grey Lagoon who has run in an Irish Point to Point but there are a lot of others who should be winning races during the coming season.”

Johnson added: “I love what I do and if you cant get excited at this time of the year then there is no point in doing it. I cant wait to get cracking on.

To find out more about any aspect of ownership contact Johnson- [email protected] or call 07977 064031.